Frank Martin on Parents Coaching From the Stands

For educational purposes only.

[@clanrobertson1]

Should be required viewing for every parent who signs their kid up for a sport.

[@AM-dk2vq]

Facts !!!!

[@ray.bailey]

NO DOUBT!

[@ixlr8395]

Absolutely!!!!!

[@dougbounds631]

brilliant ... good man.

[@maskandvaccinefreeandproud2110]

Amen

[@lochlemonde]

The old coach's joke is: Dream job is to coach for the orphanage team. No parents to deal with.

[@yeildo1492]

Second old coaches' joke: There are plenty of great coaches. The problem is getting them to come our of the stands.

[@yeildo1492]

@@michaelwilliams-qc2aa271 I know who Coach Wooten is. And legendary is a good description!

[@barneybussey1150]

We lived in the wealthier county area, and our kids' rec teams played against teams from the inner city. Our side would be full. Their stands would be almost empty. It was sad. Is it better to have involved parents at games or no parents?

[@yeildo1492]

@@barneybussey1150 Barney, I am joking. Of course it is better to have involved parents. But there is always the risk of a parent who is too involved. They are not objective. I have never had a parent say "the answer to your problems is to play my kid less."

[@fruticetum]

@@yeildo1492 I was once naive enough to think politics doesn't enter into coaching decisions. Now, I know they do nearly all of the time in youth sports, and in high school. 1) In rec sports, coaches' kids get favored playing time 95% of the time. They get favorable status for all-star team selections in rec. I've seen it over and over and over. 2) I thought things would be different in HS, but they aren't. My son played HS football. He was vying for the kicking and punting jobs with this other kid. My son completely outperformed the other kid in all the practices, but the other kid's dad volunteered to take care of field and grounds. When I saw the kid's dad and the coach walking together discussing the field, I knew my son would never get the kicking job. On my daughter's volleyball team my daughter was an outside hitter. She was going against another girl who couldn't hit the water if she fell out of a boat. But her mom was head of the booster club. She was given the position and made a team captain because of her "leadership". The team was horrible. The next year, the coach and other other girl and her mom were gone, my daughter was the starter, made all-conference, and the team did better than it had in years.

[@rsmith7300]

i love sitting down and listening to a real man talk for a few minutes. good post

[@matthewchunk3689]

is frank martin ricky martin's cousin? someone told that.

[@matthewmalpeli]

Oh ffs, it's got nothing to do with being a "real man" and everything to do with not being an asshole in front of the whole world

[@sethcarter8385]

@@matthewmalpeli it has everything to do with being a "real" man.

[@matthewmalpeli]

@@sethcarter8385 No, it doesn't. It has to do with being a wise man, a respectful man, a mature man, a judicious man, sure. But "real" is a wholly inadequate adjective. It's meaningless on its own and is loaded with toxic ideas from our cultures's toxic recent past. The James Bond archetype. If that's what a man is I've never met one and nor would I want to

[@billcampbell1627]

The syndrome is called "Little League Parent". It goes on in all sports. I played football in HS and D1 College, but was the worst example of being a parent in the stands. Drinking before going to a game doesn't help, trust me. I would have never figured it out on my own. One day while driving to a Hockey game when my son was a Junior in HS he asked me if I could stop yelling at him and the Refs during the games because it embarrassed him. From that day on I watched in the front entrance outside the arena, and in baseball I watched down the flu line away from the bench. I stayed out of the stands, and kept my mouth shut. Soon thereafter I quit drinking. Sometimes its the kids that have to teach the parents.

[@chuckinhouston9952]

Wow. Great story Bill

[@nickstl77]

Good for you Bill, you sound like you are a great Dad.

[@survivor5044]

I wish more parents could learn from their mistakes like you have. I have no doubt this made you a better parent, plus you became a stronger man for it. Thank you Bill.

[@kurtstueck7703]

Bill Campbell self awareness and listening to your kid is not easy, good job.

[@adamhastings7688]

Thank you for sharing. There are a lot of people who will see this.

[@mtminbugaha]

How could anyone disagree with this and give it a "thumbs down"?

[@mikes4593]

Those that disagree are the ones he is talking about. The truth hurts

[@yeildo1492]

Karen downvoted it.

[@gusdad4811]

The message is spot on. The downvotes are for the messenger.

[@kidzbop38isstraightfire92]

He's absolutely right. I was a Little League and Tee Ball umpire when I was 15 yrs old (trying to make a few bucks to buy a car). I lasted one month. I had one parent/coach tell me about two weeks into the season that if I was older, he "would have punched me in the mouth" because I made a bad call at 3rd (yes, I blew the call but it happened fast and I thought I saw it one way). Parents and coaches can be INSANE! Please don't be that person.

[@yeildo1492]

There will always be idiots among us.

[@dustyflair]

jeez...you blew the call....typical ref....it is everyone fault but yours....clown

[@thomaskiernan5991]

@@dustyflair you’re a fucking imbecile

[@dustyflair]

@@thomaskiernan5991 your mother

[@kidzbop38isstraightfire92]

@David curtis the one that threatened to punch me was a coach. Some were great to work with, others were d*uchebags. Definitely taught me how to act at a sporting event

[@bigbilly-fu1mw]

Awesome i've coached youth football for over twenty years, this man hits the nail right on the head!!! Thank you for sharing this!!

[@dresmith2148]

Amen brother. Parents don't understand what us coaches go through. Salute good sir!

[@earlgarcia6106]

Youth football is circus. I stand as far away from adults as possible. They’re dreadful for the most part. Many of them smoke weed AT the game and bet on not only the final score but side bets. Unreal

[@dresmith2148]

@@earlgarcia6106 betting on youth football?? Wtf??!!

[@ernesto1648]

I was a basketball referee for 20 years. Stopped officiating due to Covid-19, and decided to retire. This is the best video of articulation and honest opinion of a coach describing officiating Youth basketball games. This video needs to be shared to every parent, league, school.

[@johntallanger4036]

Most refs stink. The biases are insane. Part of that is due to the rules of baksetball being so subjective. But the other part is that while no ref can actually define what a foul is, let alone consistently identify one at full speed with players of varying heights and weight interacting....that they actually believe something fair and objective is happening. It's utter insanity.

[@willowbrook2717]

@@johntallanger4036 do you even have a single mirror in your house?

[@johntallanger4036]

@@willowbrook2717 Most refs stink. The biases are insane. Part of that is due to the rules of baksetball being so subjective. But the other part is that while no ref can actually define what a foul is, let alone consistently identify one at full speed with players of varying heights and weight interacting....that they actually believe something fair and objective is happening. It's utter insanity. I wrote that again so you could try to comment on it.

[@willowbrook2717]

@@johntallanger4036 So apparently thinking and reflecting aren't in your wheel house. But it appears that attempting to intimidate is. Just a suggestion, take a step back and read what you wrote (twice) and compare it with what this coach's message is. I'm certainly not going to suggest that I am perfect. Rather I have found that when I reflect on my actions that I have to continue to strive for excellence. This approach helps me to keep from being so harsh when it comes to judging the actions of someone who is doing something that I have never attempted to do. Here's some food for thought. I have competed up to and including the collegiate level, coached both boys and girls youth sports, coached men's fastpitch softball, and officiated a number of sports from the Jr. College level down to 8 yr. old level including everything in between. It was not until I became an official that I realized that I really didn't know the rules, let alone the mechanics, even after all of those years of competing and coaching. Its not as easy as it may look. And something that dawned on me was that officials really don't care who wins the games. That includes me. But hey, maybe you're perfectly right. Maybe its all utter insanity. Rest assured, there is a shortage of officials nationwide. Maybe its time for you to join us and help bring the level of expertise to an acceptable level?

[@johntallanger4036]

@@willowbrook2717 You're totally missing the point. So i've written it one more time for you to try to directly comment on it. The rules are completely subjective and fake to begin with. It's all biases. It's just a fantasyland that is based on whatever internal biases the individual has mixed with social pressure. There's really nothing more to it from what I've seen and never have I even heard a satisfactory explanation of what a foul is from a practical standpoint.

[@christianbeevers4937]

Everyone needs to hear this, great talk coach.

[@johnmoeller8654]

This is a man, I wish my father had this man’s assertiveness and integrity.

[@jasonedenfield7189]

Yep. As a former middle school and high school, this is absolutely correct. I made 20 bucks for a middle school game, $58.00 for a high school game. We were constantly yelled at, and most parents have no idea of the rules and their applications.

[@t-squared6406]

yep,the refs suck!,ha,ha!

[@paulbaetz9226]

@Thack spot on. As a baseball official I’ve done team rule clinics in the winter to teach the coaches and the players the rules and how to use them during a game.

[@U2BEMatchmaker]

I coached baseball for 13 years. All I can say is... this is one of my favorite things I have heard. I will be saving this for future use.

[@gjunkiee9582]

This guy hit this dead on! Well said as a coach; even better said as a father. 💯

[@curtishatem6739]

A coaches job is to coach a referee's job is to call the game a player's job is to play and a parent's job is to cheer.

[@mattf5912]

The only 4 roles!

[@WashedCoachWith3Chips]

Why doesn't this video have over 1,000,000 views?! Wow! Powerful, love it!!

[@CM-og4vc]

I agree. Problem is people don’t like being called out.

[@detroitrockcity8]

Because Frank Martin was an undervalued HC while at Kansas St before leaving. He’s an extremely honest and passionate coach and widely respected among the NCAA ranks. I’ve heard him speak at a clinic once (10 year retired coach myself-now 7 year official veteran) and it was incredible to hear his mind on the game.

[@maxpuppy96]

I officiated football and basketball for 15 years all levels, yes even pro. Best video on KZbin.

[@joshs152]

I have never seen this guy ever, but I have such mad respect for him, especially when he can separate himself from taking over his own children's coaching.

[@jameswise6058]

My first year as an assistant high school football coach, I heard the head coach make this statement... He called a meeting of all the parents before the first practice...No players, just parents... His strongest statement was "I am the head coach and these are the assistant coaches...We coach football to your boys...You do not coach your boys...If you wish to coach, get a teaching job here and I'll be overjoyed for you to join the coaching staff...Until then, we are the coaches, not you..."

[@rosshosking7727]

commenting again bc I watch this daily. I love Frank.

[@oldsalt1398]

I coached my son's team for five years. I agree with every word of this.

[@ggss6879]

That is exactly the problem! You coached your sons team!!!! Wha

[@oldsalt1398]

@@ggss6879 Huh?

[@CIA_Is_aTerrorist_Orginization]

@@oldsalt1398 he thinks you wouldn't have been as critical on your kids as another coach would've been whenever they screw up.

[@oldsalt1398]

@@CIA_Is_aTerrorist_Orginization The point of the piece is that parents should be cheerleaders in the stands. They should not be yelling out their own forms of coaching advice during a game. That advice should come from the bench only. That's what this coach is saying. At no point does he say you shouldn't coach your own kids. He simply says that if his kids are on a team he's not coaching, he'll defer to the coach who is. That's correct as well. I don't think the first commenter in this thread listened to this guy very carefully.

[@archdog99]

Need more coaches and dads like this. Great video.

[@perfect1150]

ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS!!!! Every parent of every youth athlete needs to watch this. More importantly every parent needs to watch this. The lessons in this video aren't about sports.....they're about life.....you know.....the real world that will knock kids on their asses and not even give a thought about looking back if parents (myself included) don't prepare our kids to deal with adversity and fight their own fights.

[@ggss6879]

Just looking at this guy gives me the full picture! Classic egomaniac!

[@KHN.RVA.28]

"If you fail good I'll help you get back up" totally sayin that to my son one day

[@djb-illy8471]

No shit Z

[@dylanbrunenkant4606]

Found out I’m going to have a son last week. This will be a quote I remember for the future.

[@budjeansonne4482]

I refereed middle school football for three years and finally quit because of the parents.

[@anomiemnemonical578]

The biggest children are usually in the stands

[@markchristian787]

I dont think I could befriend anyone who doesnt like this guy. Its cool theres 500,000 view on this video but it should be in the millions. This was phenomenal and spot on.

[@robertfrank9936]

Every parent should listen to the speech before there children start playing sports. This coach is 100% right. Thank you Coach. Well said.

[@keithgeezee]

I've long liked Frank before I viewed this segment. I like him even more now. I have coached youth hoops since 2006. Speak on bruh, speak on...

[@TeamSac-tp5un]

I sent this to all my parents

[@newalchemy9742]

I've coached 19 years from middle school to high school, and this has only gotten worse. I had an opposing coach tell me "wow, you're lucky, you've got a lot of assistant coaches in here tonight. Sad part is, you've forgotten more about basketball than they've ever known."

[@2009blahblah]

What's crazy is it's like that in every damn sport to. Football baseball wrestling. lacross soccer all of em.

[@dougforbes4965]

I know up here in Canada many youth sports leagues make the parents sign a Behaviour Conduct aggreement that spells exactly what is expected of them. Parents who violated it no matter what the sport was or where it took place would be warned first time, but larger infractions would be immediate removal. Once three major infractions occurred the parent would be removed for the remainder of that year. The infractions would be cursing at players, officials or other players. 2nd being under the influence of alcohol or drugs 3. Entering the game instigating a fight with another parent, coach, official or players. Allowing these things to happen loses good coaches, officials and other volunteers.

[@fridaythe13th389]

Powerful, Powerful message. It’s unfortunate that those who really need to hear it never will.

[@seamusmcevoy2011]

As a coach/teacher/parent that video is tremendous. Like so many others I give up my time to coach youngsters because I have had my time and want to pass my skills on to kids/young adults, I don't expect to get verbal abuse whilst I am helping your kid. I love working with kids (I was one myself back in the mists of time), but parents can make it so hard at times.

[@jasminelaflor9773]

“I’m not going to criticize someone trying to help you” G O L D E N

[@denisegiles1961]

Thank You! Powerful!

[@EnricoChiari]

Thank you Mr. Martin. The power of the assertiveness.

[@thelastjohnwayne]

Wow I could root for this guy.

[@Harpo.jr70]

This is a man who has my respect, so well said , parents go off to deep end.

[@takeitallin6882]

they should run this video during all games and practices

[@MrKingjason2]

Absolutely amazing!

[@bendibuono9930]

That absolutely needed to be said!!! Thank you

[@taggsfam1]

Love this watching this every time it's posted....this would be played BEFORE every game.

[@chiefsnarlsnortz1610]

This is beautiful!

[@tobyjsands8330]

I’ve watched this every time it has popped up throughout the years. I still want to hear the question that prompted this

[@glevy17]

That bit of words right there was spot on amazing. I agree 100%

[@yohnnyg]

BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!

[@frankkelleher1888]

Never said a truer word well done sir love from Ireland 🇮🇪

[@FastWalkToFresno]

I was at a lacrosse tournament last weekend and there was - as always - a group of parents constantly complaining on the sidelines. They were directing it mostly at the younger ref on the field. At one point, the older ref walked up to them and said, "do you know there is a nationwide shortage of officials in all youth sports? Do you want to know why? It's because of parents like you!" and walked away.

[@jayburns273]

Love this man!

[@oscarrivera1998]

The is best video I’ve seen about parents! Love it

[@snaphookright4767]

Thank you, coach. I’m at a loss for words on parent sidelines these days. Yes, when I was growing up there was one or two parents that would do this, now it is not uncommon for it to be a majority of a sideline. And it’s not even limited to their own kid anymore. Some people feel like they have license to talk to other people’s kids. Passing this video along.

[@Ace-ki1mc]

Beautiful. Nothing more to be said

[@kareemgordon892]

Wow Wat an Awesome Way To Deliver That, Im A B Ball ParentAnd We All Need To Listen To That! Job Well Done. Thank U Frank For That

[@fredlane9419]

Powerful!!! Thank you coach! Awesome advice!!! Miss you at Kansas State!

[@spking4149]

Been coaching the big 3 for years and years. Thankful this guy put into words what we feel inside.....

[@tommytangles1]

What a class act!! Kudos, Coach

[@lancecanyon4282]

One of my all time favorite coaches this guy.

[@HermanGan]

Truth & Respect!

[@slikk315]

This is a eye opener for sure. I like this guy. He is a real individual

[@pattyslevin8315]

Amazing. Just amazing.

[@dougcraven546]

Awesome Coach i love it

[@jasonwest2064]

Every parent should have to watch this. Great video

[@jeffbennett7470]

This guy is spot on. I coached and watched my kids play. I was so quiet as a spectator just like this guy.

[@MichaelSmith-hk2eu]

I agree. I played football at D1 school in the late 80’s and was an all American both athletically and academically and now a board certified pediatrician in the state of Pennsylvania and let me tell you parents today are far different then my parents and my friends parents. My god if I complained about my coaches to my mom or dad they would say suck it up and listen to your coach. Great times, made me tough minded.

[@therizza1905]

Lol

[@MichaelSmith-hk2eu]

You laughing at me numb nuts. You are a limp wristed little Nancy boy.

[@cameronclark3927]

This is amazing

[@michaelfowler5760]

Thank you.

[@endebtedone]

beautiful!!!

[@Ser_Arthur_Dayne]

This is absolutely legendary.

[@mondaynightmitch2823]

That's what she said

[@zacturf-n-sports6203]

This guy is a legend. I love coach.

[@DennisJohnsonDrummer]

This certainly applies to parents who think they know more than the teacher of ANY subject. I taught high school band for 35+ years and I could write a book about parents who thought they knew more than I did about designing and selecting music for a halftime show and what route to take to Walt Disney World and selecting band uniforms and - well you get the picture.

[@maxmccullough8548]

TBF I used to have to give my high school band director directions to away games and band comps on the regular, he had issues with getting directions from Yahoo back in the day lol.

[@brianmacklin8625]

This video should be sent to all the parents who sign their child up for sports and make the parents sign an agreement that they have watched this video and agree if any parent involvement dealing with the ref their child will be ask to leave the game and sat on the bench for next up coming game. Thank you

[@rubenquezada6088]

Good job coach!. This is a great video👏👏👏

[@charlesroehl5950]

Great to hear!

[@reezyree5382]

This coach is REAL!!! 💯

[@southcarolina6537]

Well said my friend and very truthful

[@iSeeummSoMad]

Dont know this man. But I respect the hell out of this man. Kudos to you coach, you have a new fan!

[@jeremiahesty2815]

I totally agree with this coach

[@michaelcasey5155]

Words of wisdom !

[@markmury6934]

What a spiritual mind. Well said.

[@Anvanho]

Great video!

[@afrothunder2405]

He is right on all points. Thank-you Coach Martin. Drop the mic....

[@jnouli]

This is fantastic

[@bobbullethalf]

Love it, I have kids that play and some of the things parents say are insane. We have a shortage in referees because of parents. The parents should just sit there and be quiet.

[@619sandiego8]

Brilliant explanation 👏

[@shahkar]

This is GOLD!!!

[@jscottrockford]

Love this guy 👍❤️

[@KM-bn4mp]

Sir you are a real coach and a very respectful man . Maybe you should do a video on how to be a parent in the stands .

[@Josh-kn5wn]

Wow this is amazing

[@ixlr8395]

The parents that complain the most are the ones that bring the kids late to practice and games. Yet if you ask them to volunteer all you hear is “I don’t have time” We have one coach that paints houses and 99% of the time,he’ll get to practice with paint on himself,yet the teams parents still get mad at him for whatever reason. They obviously don’t see the dedication he has for his team.

[@EZY2456480]

That’s why I started coaching because if you have a idiot coaching your kid telling him the wrong things you have to either coach from the stands which I don’t agree with or you become a coach which is what I chose.

[@johnanderson8096]

That was Refreshing!!!

[@bobbyramsey6874]

Wow. What a man of good principals and morals.

[@randyporter3491]

Everything Frank says here is right. I coached youth football for years. Simply put, the kids were great, but the parents were anything but. Youth coaches love what they do and do it "in spite' of the parents, not because of the warm, family atmosphere.

[@ggss6879]

I am sure you coached your kid, you never played sports and you were not happy at your job!

[@randyporter3491]

@@ggss6879 No, I played many years in west Texas, the most die-hard football state in the country, Then spent a rewarding career as a firefighter. So, are you always this wrong, or just this time ? Either way, I sure viewers will appreciate your keen wisdom and insight.

[@andychoi90020]

I love this guy.

[@yoitsdan]

Well said sir!

[@lakerdawgz32]

Love the truth spoken by this Coach! 💯 Nothing more real than this 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@ostateballas]

Two seconds in, hits like button. Thanks Coach!

[@patrickroche7799]

Well said Coach!

[@davidhornback2138]

Frank Martin was a terrific coach. .....and he's right!!!!

[@davidgrillo9928]

Love this guy

[@JohnSmith-ir9wx]

Excellent

[@johnkoch7386]

preach brother

[@jesselopez7850]

This guy's awesome.